In the wake of the recent victory for education reformers in Rhode Island, I appeared on 10 News Conference with NEARI Executive Director Bob Walsh to debate the issue on the merits.
While Mr. Walsh debated in public, however, NEARI launched personal attacks behind the scenes. NEARI publishes an official newsletter called “Newsline,” […]
Archive for the 'Failed Leadership' Category
NEARI’s Purtill Resorts to Personal Attacks
Published by July 11th, 2008 in Charter Schools, Failed Leadership, Legislature, Mayoral Academies, Mayors, NEARI and School Day. 1 CommentThe Sheldon Whitehouse Middle School?
Published by January 18th, 2008 in Charter Schools, Failed Leadership, KIPP, No Excuses and Urban Schools. 0 CommentsUS Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has plans to obtain a special federal appropriation to open a new urban middle school in Rhode Island. His office has examined the problem of low achievement in urban schools, and determined a significant part of the challenge to be our struggling middle schools. Bravo, we all agree. […]
State Funding Formula: DOA
Published by January 16th, 2008 in Adequacy, Failed Leadership, Funding, Legislature, Providence and Urban Schools. 0 CommentsThe Projo writes that plans for a statewide funding formula face an “uncertain future.” It is “not a priority” for the Governor’s office (despite their support last year). Meanwhile, the coalition of groups supporting the work has split apart, disagreeing over the future, with Education Partnership explaining that in the absence of increased […]
Providence School Dept. Has no Organizational Chart?
Published by January 11th, 2008 in Failed Leadership, Mayors, Providence, Urban Schools and Wasteful Spending. 0 CommentsThe ProJo has an article this week citing the Providence Public School Department’s failure to provide the city council with a copy of fairly basic documents that nearly any business would have: an organizational chart, job descriptions and salary data. Quoting the article:
Igliozzi said he sent two letters to School Supt. Donnie Evans, one […]
Julia Steiny on Real School Reform
Published by October 16th, 2007 in Charter Schools, Failed Leadership, Legislature and Teacher Effectiveness. 0 CommentsJulia Steiny has an excellent column in Sunday’s Providence Journal, reacting to Rhode Island’s pitiful performance on NAEP tests when compared with the strong advances being made in other states (And especially in neighboring Massachusetts). A few key excerpts from her column:
Leadership is lacking: “Hello, Rhode Island leaders? Are you out there? Governor? Commissioner […]
Kids Count Report: Deja Vu All Over Again
Published by March 29th, 2007 in Failed Leadership, Standards and Urban Schools. 1 CommentEarlier this week, Rhode Island Kids Count released their annual Factbook, which is full of troubling statistics about the many challenges facing low-income families in Rhode Island.
As the Providence Journal explains: “[The report] finds too many low-income children are getting lost along the way, falling behind their peers in school and at higher risk […]
No Slowing Down KIPP… Except in RI
Published by March 22nd, 2007 in Central Falls, Charter Schools, Failed Leadership, KIPP, Legislature, Middle Schools, No Excuses, Providence, Urban Schools and Woonsocket. 1 CommentGreat news this week from Houston, where the nonprofit Knowledge is Power Program (”KIPP”)–operator of KIPP public charter schools–announced it had raised $65 million toward a $100 million goal to greatly expand its presence in the Houston area. KIPP will use the money to expand the Houston chain of public charter schools from eight […]
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